Georgian PM: in country “only Gov’t is pro-European”, opponents “actively campaigning against” EU integration

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday claimed the “only pro-European entity” in the country was the Georgian Dream Government, which he said had been “tirelessly working” towards European integration, while opposition groups and non-governmental organisations had been “actively campaigning against” it over the past three years.

In a press briefing, Kobakhidze emphasised the Government's “commitment” to European integration amidst its decision last month not to include EU accession talks in its agenda until 2028, citing “blackmail” from the bloc and claiming his Government had taken “significant steps to push the country closer” to the EU while in office since 2012, and following the official membership request made in March 2022. 

The PM highlighted the Government's efforts to secure Georgia's candidate status for EU membership had been met with “strong opposition” from political adversaries and civil society organisations.

The only entity in Georgia that is pro-European is the Government”, Kobakhidze said. "Everyone else has been campaigning against Georgia's European integration, which is within reach, for three years now”.

The PM recalled the Government had been advocating for Georgia's EU candidate status since 2022, and pointed to the submission of a 5,000-page documentation for the applying for the candidate status, prepared by civil servants from various state institutions. He said despite the efforts, Georgia's bid was denied in June 2022.

During this time, NGOs opposed the process, arguing that not state agencies, but NGOs themselves should fill out the application”, Kobakhidze said. "At the same time, a representative of one NGO, who led the European integration direction, directly stated that Georgia should not be granted candidate status”.

Kobakhidze also criticised the opposition for their stance “against European integration” and recalled that opposition leaders “not only opposed the EU candidate status but also boycotted a key process aimed at meeting the 12 criteria required for Georgia’s integration”.

“The opposition and NGOs did not join this process, which was directly related to receiving candidate status. They boycotted the process, without which it was impossible to receive candidate status”, he said.

The official claimed despite facing “significant resistance”, the Government had pushed forward and managed to secure the status last year, which he described as a “victory for Georgia’s European future”.

We fought alone for a year and a half and wrested the candidate status from the hands of the relevant forces”, he alleged. “After that, the process continued, but there are still people who say that Georgia should not be granted anything, neither the candidate status, nor the opening of [accession] negotiations”.

Kobakhidze concluded by reaffirming the Government would continue to push for Georgia’s European integration, “regardless of the opposition's efforts to derail it”.

Whose course is pro-European and whose is anti-European, this is something that the public should discuss”, Kobakhidze said, and added “we are doing everything to ensure the progress of our country in the European direction, while our opponents are doing everything the opposite”. 

In his earlier statement the PM pledged his Government would proceed with necessary reforms for the country’s further EU integration “on its own”.